Grit, Illness-Related Distress, and Psychosocial Outcomes in College Students With a Chronic Medical Condition: A Path Analysis.

Objective: Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with chronic medical conditions are at increased risk for a host of negative psychosocial outcomes, including depressive and anxious symptoms. Although studies have shown that illness appraisals (e.g., illness intrusiveness [II] and illness uncertainty [IU]) demonstrate consistent associations with such outcomes, few studies have examined positive factors that may relate to better psychosocial outcomes and appraisals. The present study evaluated grit (i.e., perseverance and passion for long-term goals), a novel construct in pediatric psychology, as a positive factor that relates to reduced untoward effects of II and IU on psychosocial outcomes in AYAs with chronic medical conditions. Methods: College students with a chronic medical condition (N = 120) completed questionnaires online, including measures of grit, II, IU, depression, anxiety, and emotional well-being (EWB). Results: The overall path analysis demonstrated that increased grit is directly associated with decreased depressive and anxious symptoms and increased EWB (p < .05). Further, analyses indicated that the positive association between grit and psychosocial outcomes is partially mediated by illness appraisals (p < .05). Conclusions: This study identified grit as a positive personal asset among AYAs with chronic medical conditions. By introducing a novel construct to the AYA literature, the study expands on the integration of positive psychology and pediatric psychology and underscores the need for greater research on the role of grit in chronic medical condition populations.

Asthma-specific cognitions, self-focused attention, and fear of negative evaluation in adolescents and young adults diagnosed with childhood-onset asthma.

The present study examined the impact of asthma-specific thought intrusion (TI) and thought suppression (TS) on two cognitive-affective variables (self-focused attention and fear of negative evaluation) among adolescents and young adults (AYAs) diagnosed with childhood-onset asthma. Participants were 290 AYAs who completed assessment questionnaires and participated in a written exercise electronically. Asthma-TI and TS were reported by participants following participation in a writing assignment. Asthma-TI was associated with increased private, public, and social anxiety self-focused attention, and greater fear of negative evaluation. Interestingly, asthma-TS was not associated with these same outcome variables. Findings suggest illness-specific cognitions are associated with cognitive-affective variables and it may be important to assess for illness-specific intrusive thoughts following asthma-focused medical appointments. Additionally, findings suggest the importance of assessing asthma-TI and TS separately in order to better understand thoughts about health and psychological functioning.

Illness Uncertainty, Global Psychological Distress, and Posttraumatic Stress in Pediatric Cancer: A Preliminary Examination Using a Path Analysis Approach.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship of illness uncertainty (IU) to global psychological distress (GPD) and posttraumatic stress symptomatology (PTSS) using a path analysis approach. METHODS: Participants were 105 caregivers (MAge = 36.9 years, standard deviation [SD] = 8.7) of children (MAge = 8.6 years, SD = 5.0) with newly diagnosed cancer. A path analysis model examined the indirect and direct effects of each IU subscale on PTSS through GPD. RESULTS: The final model accounted for 47.30% of the variance in PTSS, and the ambiguity facet of IU had a significant indirect effect on PTSS through GPD. Lack of clarity and unpredictability were not significant predictors. CONCLUSIONS: Ambiguity experienced by parents may be salient in the development of PTSS. Future research should examine these relationships longitudinally in larger samples to better understand adjustment in parents of children with cancer.

Parent illness appraisals, parent adjustment, and parent-reported child quality of life in pediatric cancer.

Psychosocial distress is a salient construct experienced by families of children with newly diagnosed cancer, but little is known about parental appraisal of the child's illness and the subsequent impact this may have on child and parent functioning. The goal of the present study was to examine the interrelationships among multiple parent illness appraisals, parent adjustment outcomes, and parent-reported child quality of life in parents of children diagnosed with cancer. Parents completed measures of illness appraisal (illness uncertainty and attitude toward illness), parent adjustment (general distress, posttraumatic stress, parenting stress), and child quality of life (general and cancer-related). Path analysis revealed direct effects for parent illness uncertainty and illness attitudes on all 3 measures of parent adjustment. Illness uncertainty, but not illness attitudes, demonstrated a direct effect on parent-reported child general quality of life; parenting stress had direct effects on general and cancer-related quality of life. Exploratory analyses indicated that parent illness uncertainty and illness attitudes conferred indirect effects on parent-reported general and cancer-related quality of life through parenting stress. Negative parent illness appraisals appear to have adverse impacts on parents' psychosocial functioning and have implications for the well-being of their child with cancer.

Characterizing Early Psychosocial Functioning of Parents of Children with Moderate to Severe Genital Ambiguity due to Disorders of Sex Development.

PURPOSE: We examined the psychosocial characteristics of parents of children with disorders of sex development at early presentation to a disorders of sex development clinic. Parental anxiety, depression, quality of life, illness uncertainty and posttraumatic stress symptoms were assessed. Additionally we evaluated the relationship of assigned child gender to parental outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 51 parents of children with ambiguous or atypical genitalia were recruited from 7 centers specializing in treatment of disorders of sex development. At initial assessment no child had undergone genitoplasty. Parents completed the Cosmetic Appearance Rating Scale, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, SF-36, Parent Perception of Uncertainty Scale and Impact of Event Scale-Revised. RESULTS: A large percentage of parents (54.5%) were dissatisfied with the genital appearance of their child, and a small but significant percentage reported symptoms of anxiety, depression, diminished quality of life, uncertainty and posttraumatic stress. Few gender differences emerged. CONCLUSIONS: Although many parents function well, a subset experience significant psychological distress around the time of diagnosis of a disorder of sex development in their child. Early screening to assess the need for psychosocial interventions is warranted.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of health promotion interventions for children and adolescents using an ecological framework.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and quantify the evidence for health promotion interventions in children and adolescents. METHOD: 96 independent samples of smoking, physical activity, and diet studies were included. Outcomes included both objective and self-reports of health behavior, as well as proxy measures such as fitness. RESULTS: The aggregated effect was significant (g = .20, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.08-0.32, n = 96). A significant effect of intervention was observed at approximately 1-year follow-up (g = .07, 95% CI = 0.02-0.14, n = 20). The greatest risk of bias was failure to blind outcome assessment, which occurred in 21% of studies. Most studies lacked sufficient detail to determine the quality of their randomization sequence (58%). Additional concerns about risk of bias for individual studies were minimal. Overall, the quality of this finding was moderate using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation criteria. CONCLUSION: Health promotion interventions are effective for modifying health behavior; however, effect sizes are small.

Illness uncertainty and illness intrusiveness as predictors of depressive and anxious symptomology in college students with chronic illnesses.

OBJECTIVE: To examine predictors of psychological functioning in college students with chronic illnesses. PARTICIPANTS: Participants (N = 1413) included 364 students with self-reported diagnoses of asthma or allergies, 148 students with other chronic illnesses (eg, epilepsy, type 1 diabetes), and 901 healthy students. Data were collected between November 2013 and May 2015. METHODS: Participants completed online measures of psychosocial functioning, including illness uncertainty, illness intrusiveness, depression, and anxiety. RESULTS: Students with chronic illnesses other than asthma or allergies evidenced the greatest levels of anxious (p <. 05), but not depressive symptomology. Additionally, this group reported greater illness uncertainty and intrusiveness (p <. 05) compared to their peers. Uncertainty and intrusiveness independently predicted depressive and anxious symptoms for students in both illness groups. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to peers with asthma or allergies, college students with other chronic illnesses reported higher levels of anxious symptoms. Illness uncertainty and intrusiveness appear to be predictors of psychological distress, regardless of illness.

Self-esteem, Self-focused Attention, and the Mediating Role of Fear of Negative Evaluation in College Students With and Without Asthma.

OBJECTIVE: The current study investigated the mediating role of fear of negative evaluation on the relationship between self-focused attention and self-esteem among college students with and without asthma. PARTICIPANTS: Young adults with (n = 148) and without (n = 530) childhood-onset asthma were recruited from a college student population. METHODS: Self-focused attention and fear of negative evaluation measures were completed. Participants also answered questions about inclusion in a social activity. RESULTS: Higher levels of self-focused attention and fear of negative evaluation were associated with lower self-esteem in both groups within the context of social activity participation. Fear of negative evaluation mediated the relationship between self-consciousness and self-esteem. No significant differences were found between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Findings indicate significant relationships among self-focused attention, fear of negative evaluation, and self-esteem in the context of social activity participation. Further examination of self-esteem regarding participation in social activities among college students appears warranted.

Differences in sleep quality and health-related quality of life in young adults with allergies and asthma and their healthy peers.

OBJECTIVE: The current study examined the relationship between sleep quality and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). PARTICIPANTS: Participants were 501 undergraduate students with allergies (167), asthma + allergies (167), or with no history of a chronic illness (167) completed study measures from August 2011 to April 2012. METHODS: The undergraduate students completed questionnaires online as part of a larger study of psychosocial adjustment of young adults. RESULTS: Young adults with allergies and asthma + allergies reported significantly worse sleep quality and HRQOL than healthy peers. Additionally, those with allergies and asthma + allergies had significantly more sleep disturbances and used sleeping medication significantly more often in the previous month than healthy peers. CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight concerns regarding quality of life and sleep problems in an often-overlooked population. Importantly, sleep difficulties can result in difficulties in daily living and impairment in academic functioning.

The Relationship of Allergy Severity to Depressive and Anxious Symptomatology: The Role of Attitude toward Illness.

The current study examined the relationship between self-reported allergy severity, depressive and anxious symptoms, and attitude toward illness in adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with allergies. Participants were 214 undergraduate students between the ages of 17-25 years with self-reported allergies. Participants completed the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and the Child Attitude Toward Illness Scale (CATIS) as measures of depressive symptoms, anxious symptoms, and attitude toward illness, respectively. Using the bootstrapping method, results revealed that attitude toward illness mediated the relationship between self-reported disease severity and depressive and anxious symptoms. Results of the current study suggest that attitude toward illness is one pathway by which subjective disease severity impacts psychological functioning in AYAs with allergies.